New Zealand All Over

Cornwall Park Auckland

2026-03-12T19:56:00.000+13:00

Cornwall Park, Auckland

History | Attractions | Access & Map | Hotels in Auckland

Cornwall Park in the Epsom district is the largest green space in Auckland. Altogether with the adjacent area of Maungakiekie/One Tree Hill Domain, the parkland covers 670 acres (270 hectares).

Maungakiekie is administered by the Maori Ngā Mana Whenua o Tāmaki Makaurau Collective.

The park is named after the Duke of Cornwall and York later George V. The Duke was on a visit to New Zealand at the time of the park's purchase by Sir John Logan Campbell.

Cornwall Park Auckland

History

The land that the park and Maungakiekie/One Tree Hill Domain occupy was once one of Auckland's largest volcanoes - Maungakiekie.

From the 17th century the land was a Maori pā (fortified settlement). By the late 18th century, the Maori had left the pā and sold the land to Irish merchant Thomas Henry with One Tree Domain passing to The Crown.

Businessmen and later mayor Sir John Logan Campbell (the so-called "Father of Auckland") and William Brown bought the land from Henry in 1853. In 1901 the land became open to all New Zealanders. Logan Campbell is buried on the summit of Maungakiekie One Tree Hill.

During World War II, the park served as a hospital for wounded soldiers.

Cornwall Park

Attractions

The park provides a pleasant environment for many outdoor activities. These include walking, jogging, cricket, rugby union and rugby league, archery, tennis and bowls.

Home to various animals such as cattle, sheep and over 30 species of birds including blackbirds, guineafowl, kereru, myna, pheasants and quails, Cornwall Park has long been an active farm with the land first used agriculturally by its first inhabitants, the Maori.

The Stardome Observatory & Planetarium is located within the park along with the Cornwall Park Cafe, Auckland Archery Club and a band rotunda.

Several events take place throughout the year including guided walks, tai chi sessions and workshops.

The 4-star Greenlane Manor Motel is on the northeastern edge of Cornwall Park.

John Logan Campbell (1817-1912)

Access & Map

Inquiries: Huia Lodge Discovery Hub
Tel: 09 630 8485
cornwallpark.co.nz

Address: PO Box 26072
Epsom 1344
Auckland.

Park gates open from 7 am - 8 pm.

Dogs are welcome in the park, but must be on a lead at all time.

The nearest station to the northern entrance to the station is Greenlane. Buses from Auckland CBD run to close to both the northern and the southern entrances of the park. Journey time is about 30 minutes.

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Fiordland National Park South Island

2026-01-26T17:34:00.000+13:00

Fiordland National Park, New Zealand

Attractions | Accommodation | Access

Fiordland, New Zealand

Fiordland National Park on the southwest tip of South Island, is the largest of New Zealand's 13 national parks. It occupies most of the southwest corner of the South Island and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The natural landscape here is one of beautiful forests, fiords, glaciers, mountains and valleys. Again, walking trails crisscross the area allowing access to some of the most striking natural scenery in the country.

The park covers an area of 12,607 square kilometres (4,868 square miles). It was established in 1952.

The stunning scenery of Fiordland National Park, South Island

Attractions

The park's most iconic feature is its stunning fiords, which were carved by glaciers over thousands of years. The most famous of these is Milford Sound, renowned for its towering cliffs, cascading waterfalls, and tranquil waters.

Other notable fiords in the park include Doubtful Sound and Dusky Sound. These fjords offer breathtaking scenery and are often regarded as some of the most beautiful natural attractions in the world.

The diverse landscapes of Fiordland National Park include rugged mountains, ancient rainforests, lakes (Lake Hauroko is the deepest in New Zealand at 462 metres), and rivers. The park is home to numerous native plant and animal species, some of which are unique to New Zealand. The native birdlife is particularly impressive, with species such as the endangered takahe, kea (a playful alpine parrot), and the kiwi, New Zealand's iconic flightless bird.

Fiordland is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts and adventurers. It offers a wide range of activities, including hiking, kayaking, boating, fishing, and wildlife spotting. The park is crisscrossed by a network of hiking trails, the most famous of which is the Milford Track, often referred to as "the finest walk in the world." This four-day trek takes hikers through awe-inspiring landscapes, including mountains, lakes, and waterfalls including Sutherland Falls, at 580 meters the highest in New Zealand.

In addition to its natural wonders, Fiordland National Park also has a rich human history. The area was traditionally inhabited by Maori, the indigenous people of New Zealand, who cherished the land and its resources. European exploration and settlement brought new influences to the region, and remnants of early human settlements can still be found.

The Department of Conservation (DOC) Visitor Centre is at Lakefront Drive, Te Anau 9600. Tel: 03 249 7924; May to October open Monday to Saturday from 9 am - 4 pm, closed for lunch 12 - 1 pm. Closed Sunday; November to April: 8.30 am - 4.30 pm daily.

DOC Sign

Accommodation

Try Kingsgate Hotel Te Anau next to Lake Te Anau.

The four-star Distinction Luxmore Hotel has a fitness centre and free WiFi.

The Fiordland Hotel provides both en suite bathrooms and tea and coffee-making facilities.

Find accommodation in Te Anau.

Access - Getting There

Access to Fiordland National Park can be challenging due to its remote location and rugged terrain. However, there are several ways to reach the park and explore its stunning landscapes.

The closest major airports to Fiordland are Queenstown Airport and Invercargill Airport. Queenstown Airport is approximately 170 kilometers (105 miles) northeast of the park, while Invercargill Airport is about 180 kilometers (112 miles) southeast. From these airports, you can rent a car or join organized tours to travel to Fiordland. Queenstown Airport has flights from Wellington International Airport (WLG), Auckland Airport (AKL) and Christchurch.

In addition, there are international flights to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and the Gold Coast operated by Air New Zealand, Jetstar, Qantas and Virgin Australia.

If you prefer to drive, the town of Te Anau, located on the shores of Lake Te Anau, serves as the gateway to the park. Te Anau is approximately a two-hour drive from Queenstown and a three-hour drive from Invercargill. From Te Anau, you can continue your journey to various destinations within the park.

Several bus services operate between major towns and cities in New Zealand, including Queenstown, Te Anau, and Invercargill, and provide transportation to Fiordland National Park. These buses often offer flexible schedules and are a convenient option for travelers who prefer not to drive.

The fiords themselves can be accessed by boat. Cruises depart from Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound, providing visitors with an opportunity to explore the scenery up close.

Milford Sound

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Taxation in New Zealand

2026-01-14T17:02:00.000+13:00

Taxation in New Zealand

It's worth knowing about tax in New Zealand whether you live there or are just visiting.

International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy

The first tax a New Zealand visitor encounters is the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy. Unless you are an Australian, a New Zealander, from the Pacific Islands (with exceptions), or a transit passenger at an airport, you will have to pay this $35 levy at the time when you apply for a visa or an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority). (The fee for your visa application is separate.)

Goods and Services Tax (GST)

Then, as soon as you are out of customs and immigration, you will start paying another tax: the Goods and Services Tax (GST). This 15% tax is levied on every purchase you make. There are some exemptions; these include purchases of pure gold, silver or platinum (if that's what you have in mind for souvenirs!) and financial fees, such as when you exchange money or pay for a ATM withdrawal, etc.

Note that New Zealand does not offer GST refunds for tourists. This is unlike many countries where, when leaving the country, you can claim back the sales tax you paid during your trip by showing your receipt. No, New Zealand keeps your money. Say haere rā (Maori for "Goodbye!") to whatever GST you paid.

Well, not quite. If you are a tourist on a non-New Zealand passport, you can buy goods at a registered tax-free, GST-free retailer. The goods are then couriered to the airport, where you pick them up when you depart the country. But for the trouble and expense involved, you must be sure that you are getting a good enough deal to make it worthwhile.

(Note, though, that if you own a business in New Zealand, you can claim a GST refund for goods and services your business has purchased throughout the year.)

One reassuring thing about GST is that it is always included in the prices displayed.

Fun fact: Many governments collect a considerable proportion of their annual revenue from sales tax, but the proportion the New Zealand government collects is a bigger chunk of the total than in any other OECD country.

Tax exemptions

If you live and work in New Zealand, then you must pay income tax. However, before we get to that, let's look at the taxes that New Zealand DOESN'T impose.

In New Zealand there is:

- no inheritance tax

- no capital gains tax (except for investment properties, i.e., real estate that you have bought and sold within five years. Search the internet for "bright-line property rule" to find out more).

- no local or state taxes (although local authorities do levy a property tax, which in New Zealand is called "rates.")

- no social security levy

- no GST charged on residential rents, financial services and mortgage repayments, airfares for travel overseas, and purchases of pure gold, silver or platinum.

Income tax in New Zealand

If you work in New Zealand, you must pay tax on the following sources of income:

-salary and wages (including for work performed for an overseas employer)

-any payments you receive from the Accident Compensation Corporation as compensation for loss of earning

-some bonus payments (the tax rate differs depending on whether the bonus is paid as a lump sum or in installments)

-some allowances your employer pays you, such as for travel, accommodation, relocation, etc.

If you are a wage earner, then your employer deducts your taxes before you get paid in what is called the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) system. You do not have to fill out any tax forms at the end of the year. However, it is your responsibility to work out what your tax code (not your tax rate) is, declare it in the IR 330 form that your employer gives you, and make sure that your employer is using that code for you.

Tax codes

A tax code in New Zealand is a letter, or short combination of letters/numbers, that indicates what kind of earner you are.

The tax code that applies to most income earners in New Zealand is a description based on how much you earn in a year. The tax rate is a how much tax you must pay if that code is yours.

Tax code "SB": if your income (in total, from all sources) is no more than NZD 14,000 p.a. Tax rate: 10.5%

Tax code "S": if your income (in total, from all sources) is at least NZD 14,000 p.a. and no more than NZD 48,000 p.a. Tax rate: 17.5%

Tax code "SH": if your income (in total, from all sources) is at least NZD 48,001 p.a. and no more than NZD 70,000 p.a. Tax rate: 30%

Tax code: "ST": if your income (in total, from all sources) is more than NZD 70,000 p.a. Tax rate: 33%.

These are just four of the most common tax codes. There are several more.

If you work as an employee in New Zealand, make sure that your employer has recorded the correct tax code for you, else you could face a bill at the end of the year from the Inland Revenue Department.

Tax brackets

It's important to note that the tax rates referred to above do not apply to your whole income. New Zealand levies taxes according to tax brackets.

For example, let's say your annual income is $100,000. This means your tax code is ST, and, as explained above, the tax rate for tax code ST is 33%. But, actually, you are not charged 33% on your whole income, but only that part of it that exceeds $70,000.

Your $100,000 income would be divided into the following taxation brackets:

- $14,000, for which you would be taxed 10.5% (i.e., $1,470)

- $14,001 to $48,000 (i.e., $33,999), for which you would be taxed 17.5% ($5,949.82)

- $48,001 to $70,000 (i.e., $21,999), for which you would be taxed 30% (i.e., $6,599.70)

- $70,000 and over (in the case of someone earning $100,000 p.a.: $30,000),, for which you would be taxed 33% (i.e., $9,900)

So, adding up all those different amounts from different tax brackets, someone on an income of $100,000 p.a. would pay $23,919.52 in tax. That's an actual tax rate of 23.9%.

ACC levy

ACC means Accident Compensation Corporation (Te Kaporeihana Āwhina Hunga Whara in Maori). In New Zealand, you cannot sue anyone for damages if you get injured. Rather, you are automatically entitled to compensation from the ACC.

(Admittedly, there is provision for the courts to award exemplary or punitive damages if someone is injured because of the outrageous conduct of another person. However, awarding such damages is rare, and the amounts awarded are small.)

The ACC is funded by an ACC levy, which is basically a small tax on income. There are different kinds of ACC levy, each with a different rate. But the most common is the Current Earner's levy, for those who receive a salary. The current rate for the Current Earner's levy is 1.21%.

So, for example, if you are tax code ST, you would forfeit a total of 31.21% of your annual income: 30% to the Inland Revenue Department, and 1.21% to the Accident Compensation Corporation.

Tax on overseas income

In principle, New Zealand imposes a tax on all income earned, whether the source of that income is in New Zealand or overseas.

However, new migrants to New Zealand do not have to pay tax on income earned overseas for the first four years.

Also, New Zealand provides tax credits to people who are subject to taxation both in New Zealand and in another country. If you show that you have paid tax on your overseas income to that overseas government, New Zealand will recognize that and not tax you for it.

Furthermore, New Zealand has a double tax agreement with about 40 countries to avoid double taxation for people in two taxation regimes.

Tax credits

Finally, there are one or two ways of getting back some of the tax you paid.

Independent Earner Tax Credit

The New Zealand government offers a $10 per week tax credit to people who are eligible for the Independent Earner Tax Credit (IETC). To apply, you must be a New Zealand tax resident who is earning no less than $24,000 and no more than $48,000 p.a.

Donations

New Zealand's Department of Inland Revenue also rewards donors for their generosity. If you donate $5 or more to a government-approved donee (or, of course, to multiple donees), you can claim back either 33.33% per of your total donations or 33.33% of your taxable income, whichever is less.

New Zealand tax resources

For more details on taxation in New Zealand, visit the Inland Revenue Department website.

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The Moeraki Boulders

2026-01-04T23:41:00.001+13:00

Moeraki Boulders

History | Protected | Getting There | Beaches in New Zealand

A boy points out to sea from beside a Moeraki Boulder

Koekohe Beach, in New Zealand's South Island, showcases the extraordinary Moeraki Boulders. The boulders are a geological feature that look almost artificial in their spherical perfection.

The rocks give the beach the look of a fantasy landscape. Not only are they ball-shaped, but they have almost regular-looking cracks all over them - some filled with crystals, which look like pale cement. This give them a sort of "turtle shell" look. They are even a little reminiscent of textbook pictures of the human brain!

Koekohe Beach, with the Moeraki Boulders

History

The huge round, mysterious-looking rocks lie either singly or in clumps on the sand. It's thought that the boulders began forming in the Paleocene epoch, i.e., about 66 to 56 million years ago. Interestingly, they didn't form by breaking off a bigger piece of rock. Rather, they formed like pearls do, via a process of accretion.

They began forming in mud on the seafloor. The original adhesive was a substance called calcite (the same stuff that makes up limestone and marble). The calcite bound together other miscellaneous minerals. And over a period of about four million years, today's Moeraki Boulders were formed.

A small, almost perfectly spherical, Moeraki Boulder

60 millions years ago is a long time! And during that time, the geological layer they formed in, on the then seafloor, was lifted high above what is now sea level. So, the "mother lode" of the Moeraki Boulders is actually the cliff behind the beach! And the rocks now inhabit the beach only because erosion released them from the cliffs and gravity pulled them down there.

There are still more Moeraki Boulders encased in those cliffs, due to come down to the beach when the time is right.

Protected

Not all the Moeraki Boulders are still intact

The Moeraki Boulders have been officially protected since 1971 (although they are not a UNESCO World Heritage Site). The stretch of beach they are on is a scientific reserve. Therefore, while you are allowed to get up close to them, damaging them is forbidden by law.

The Boulders are a popular tourist attraction, and a visit to them adds yet another image in the visitor's memory to the many amazing ones that make up New Zealand.

Getting There

Moeraki Boulders with the cliff from where they came

The Moeraki Boulders are on Koekohe Beach, between the fishing town of Moeraki and the settlement of Hampden. This stretch of the beach is about 80 km north of Dunedin, on the South Island's eastern coast.

If you're driving in New Zealand, the Boulders are readily accessible from State Highway 1. There is the Moeraki Public Parking space for vehicles.

Moeraki Boulders on Koekohe Beach, Otago coast of the South Island.

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New Zealand Rivers

2025-12-30T19:03:00.000+13:00

New Zealand Rivers

Huka Falls on the Waikato River, North Island, New Zealand.

New Zealand is blessed with hundreds and hundreds of rivers, with well over 20 of them 100 km or more in length. They help make the country both an agricultural powerhouse and an adventurer's and nature lover's paradise. The rivers are usually known by their Maori names.

With many high mountains (taking up about one-third of New Zealand's land area), fairly high rainfall (among the top 50 rainiest countries in the world), and even glaciers, it is no surprise the country has an abundance of waterways.

Often deep and fast-flowing, especially in the hill county of the North Island, many of New Zealand's rivers are favourites with kayakers and white water rafters. In flatter regions, such as the east coast of the South Island, rivers are wide and shallow, with crystal clear water and safe for swimming.

The light blue colour of some of New Zealand's rivers comes from particles eroded from glaciers, and which reflect the sun.

No less than six of New Zealand's ten longest rivers are clustered at the very south of the South Island, on the east side of the Otago and Southland regions.

Waikato River - the Longest in New Zealand

The longest river in New Zealand is the 425 km Waikato in the North Island. It means "flowing water" in Maori, and gives its name to the region south of Auckland, centred on Hamilton, through which it flows.

The river originates in glaciers on Mount Ruapehu then flows into Lake Taupo then north through Whakamaru, Cambridge and Hamilton before reaching the sea on the west coast. The stretch from Mount Ruapehu to Lake Taupo has been called the Tongariro River since 1945.

The Waikato River was very important for the Maori as a transportation route. In fact, the 19th century scientist, Ferdinand Hochstetter, described its role as 'the Mississippi of the Maori'.

One of the most famous features of the Waikato River is the Huka Falls (pictured at top), near the town of Taupo. Moreover, much of the Taupo stretch of the river is famous for whitewater kayaking.

Interestingly, the Waikato River was the first body of water for New Zealand's fledgling navy, the Waikato Flotilla. This comprised eight boats that plied the river in the service of government troops during the Maori Wars of the 1860s.

The waters of the Waikato power New Zealand, with eight dams on the river, and nine hydroelectric stations. Altogether they supply more than 10% of the country's electricity needs.

The biggest threat to the health of the Waikato River is phosphate run-off from the fertiliser used on farms, and farm animal feces. The river's flow is so great that pollutants are not noticeable to the naked eye or nose; all the same, at least one species of native fish, the grayling, has gone extinct because of them.

Clutha River / Mata-Au

The Clutha River in English, the Mata Au ("swift current") in Maori, is the longest river in the South Island. And, indeed, the current is one of the swiftest of any New Zealand river—and, apparently, one of the top ten swiftest in the world!

This beautiful, long, mostly wide, river drains Lake Wanaka, which is New Zealand's fourth largest lake. The Clutha offers tourists some spectacular views and experiences, and is distinctive for the turquoise water of its upper reaches.

The Tupeka Mouth Punt is a quaint old-style river ferry on the Mata-Au in Waitahuna, Otago. It is said to be the only river ferry of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, and has room even for a couple of vehicles.

The Mighty Clutha River Trail is a trail alongside the river that is a work in progress. Already completed sections offer walking, biking, and even wheelchairing, experiences in various different riverside environments. It is being developed by the Clutha Mata-Au River Parkway project.

Whanganui River (North Island)

The Whanganui River, with its mouth on the west coast of the North Island, in the town of the same name, is said to be the New Zealand river offering the longest navigable stretch of water.

The Whanganui River is by far New Zealand's most prominent, in that it has been at the centre of disputes between Maori and the Crown (i.e., the New Zealand government) regarding ownership of it, ever since the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840.

The dispute was settled only in 2017, when the river was granted legal personhood: the first such river in the world.

The upper reaches of the river has a Bridge to Nowhere, a white elephant of a concrete arch bridge, built in 1936, with no connecting roads, now encroached upon by nature, and reachable only by tourist jet boat.

Taieri River (South Island)

The Taieri River is just north-east of the slightly longer Clutha River, which also goes through the province of Otago. Although New Zealand's fourth longest river, at 288 km, only the 20 km from the mouth of the Taieri River are navigable.

The Taieri is well-known for its good brown trout fishing, the fishing season for most of the river being 1st October to 30th April.

Like the Whanganui River in the North Island, the Taieri River is circuitous, meandering through farmland. In fact, the mouth of the river is closer to the source than the farthest reach is.

30 km or so north-east of Taieri Mouth (the town at the mouth of the river) is the city of Dunedin.

The Taieri Gorge Railway is a scenic railway (currently suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic) that takes tourists through the dramatically scenic Taieri Gorge , carved out over millennia by the river.

Rivers in New Zealand

Rangitīkei River (North Island)

The Rangitikei River is in the North Island, and is a little south of the Whanganui River. At 241 km long, it is the fifth-longest river in New Zealand.

Perhaps the most striking feature of the river for most people is the white mudstone cliffs that line the river and, by default, the stretch of State Highway 1 that follows the Rangitikei.

Tarata Fishaway Lodge is a venerable retreat on the upper reaches of the Rangitikei. Downstream, the Vinegar Hill camping site nestled in a bend in the river has since the 1970s been a fixture of the gay and lesbian leisure-time scene over Christmas/New Year.

Mataura River (South Island)

The Mataura River is New Zealand's sixth longest, at 240 km, and flows through the Southland region.

In February 2020, the Mataura flooded towns along the river, including those of Mataura and Gore, causing widespread damage. The disaster drew attention to the problem of garbage landfills situated near waterways, as many such sites were flooded, spilling much of the waste across the flooded landscape.

The weird fish that is the lamprey (with a sucker for a mouth) inhabits parts of the Mataura River, and is still able to be fished there today.

Lake Manapouri

Waiau River (South Island)

The Waiau River (217 km long, and New Zealand's seventh longest) is also in Southland. It begins in Lake Te Anau, the biggest lake by surface area in the country and the second biggest in the South Island.

Lake Te Anau is one of New Zealand's most untouched and beautiful lakes, as is the second lake the river flows through, Lake Manapouri, just 8 km southwest of Lake Te Anau.

Lake Manapouri was the focus of a long-running, and successful ecological battle that started in the 1970s. Much of the New Zealand public protested plans to raise the lake's water level so as to supply hydroelectricity for an aluminium smelter. This writer was only a child at the time, but clearly recalls the passions the issue aroused. Lake Manapouri does have a hydroelectric station, though, which is New Zealand's biggest.

Lake Anau and the upper reaches of the Waiau River are a sanctuary for the takahe, a critically endangered native species of flightless bird, once thought to have gone extinct.

Tuatapere Scenic Reserve & Domain is on the Waiau River, at the town of Tautapere. It offers walks through ancient podocarp and beech forests, and an opportunity to encounter a massive, approximately 1,000-year-old totara tree. (The totara is one of New Zealand's native forest canopy species.)

Waiau Toa / Clarence River (South Island)

The Waiau Toa / Clarence River (209 km) is up in the Marlborough and Canterbury regions of the South Island.

The Waiau Toa / Clarence has its source in the small, picturesque and very remote highland lake, Lake Tennyson.

The river has many sprawling braided sections that are habitats for the pohowera, a native New Zealand plover, and the black-fronted tern, or tarapiroe. There are also stretches of deeply carved gorge.

Kawarau River rapids, Queenstown.

Waitaki River (South Island)

The Waitaki River (209 km) starts in the artificial lake that is Lake Benmore, in the Canterbury region of the South Island, and meets the sea on the South Island's west coast, in the Otago region. Traditionally the river formed the boundary between the Canterbury and Otago regions.

Just downstream of Lake Benmore is another artificial lake, Lake Aviemore, then Lake Waitaki, also manmade. All three lakes were created by damming for hydroelectricity. Altogether, there are eight hydroelectric plants on the Waitaki River.

The Waitaki River is well-known for its good trout and salmon fishing.

The Waitaki River is unusual in the extent of its braiding. A proposed hydropower project, Project Aqua, was scrapped in the middle of the noughties that would have diverted about three-quarters of the river and thus destroy its braidedness.

Unusually heavy rainfall in late 2019 and early 2020 caused strong currents and significant erosion in the lower reaches of the river, placing a financial burden on local communities for repair work.

Ōreti River (South Island)

The Oreti River (203 km) is the last of the Otago and Southland rivers to make it into the top longest ten.

The Ōreti is one of the habitats of the endangered tarāpuka, or black-billed gull. In its upper reaches, it flows through tussock land, and through farms in its lower reaches.

The Ōreti, too, is popular with trout and salmon fisherpersons, who must obtain a fishing license from Fish and Game New Zealand.

The river made it into the news last year when an abandoned 19th-century steam locomotive was salvaged from it.

Rivers in the UK

Waterfalls in New Zealand

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Sunniest Places in New Zealand

2025-12-18T13:52:00.001+13:00

Sunniest Places in New Zealand

New Zealand's Climate in General

New Zealand is called "sub-tropical" in terms of climate, meaning the average temperature is about 20 degrees Celsius (67 degrees Fahrenheit). But New Zealand is quite a long country from north to south: about 1,600 kilometres (990 miles). That's roughly the distance from Beijing to Taipei, New Delhi to Goa, London to Lisbon, or Philadelphia to Miami.

Therefore, it's difficult to characterise New Zealand's climate, as it completely depends where in New Zealand you are. But Northern Hemisphere dwellers should always remember that New Zealand is in the Southern Hemisphere, meaning that "north equals warm" and "south equals cold." (And of course, that the seasons are opposite to what you're used to, as well!)

New Zealand's Sunniest Places

Let's look at just the sunniest parts of New Zealand, i.e., places where the sun is least obscured by cloud. Where are they? What kind of temperatures and weather do they get throughout the year? And what are the various features of those places?

(Note, however, that "sunniest" does not necessarily equal "warmest." A lot of factors affect air temperature, and sunshine hours is just one of them. For that reason, don't be surprised that the South Island is home to some of New Zealand's sunniest spots!)

Whakatane

Based on the very latest weather statistics, Whakatane in the North Island's Bay of Plenty district, is the sunniest place in New Zealand, averaging a whopping 7.4 hours of sunshine a day in 2020. The town also records higher temperatures than anywhere else in New Zealand.

Whakatane is a small town of just under 17,000 people and is located at the mouth of the river of the same name.

About 40% of Whakatane's population is of Maori ancestry, reflecting the long history of Maori settlement here.

Forestry and farming are the main industries here, but there is also a large aquaculture sector, particularly for the cultivation of mussels.

However, Whakatane has done its best to capitalise on its sunniness, running a domestic tourist campaign over the past year based on the slogan, "The Sunniest Place in the World" (with the caveat: "that you can travel to at the moment"!)

The crowning jewel of Whakatane's recreational scene is idyllic Ohope Beach, just east of the township. But rainforest treks, fishing charters, flights to volcanic White Island, boat tours to Moutohora/Whale Island, golfing and bike tours are some of the other activities that Whakatane offers the tourist.

Blenheim

Blenheim is near the northern tip of the South Island, and, together with nearby Nelson, is the second sunniest spot in New Zealand with an average of 6.8 sunshine hours per day.

This town of a little under 30,000 people is the hub town for New Zealand's most prosperous wine-producing area, the Marlborough region. Summers are quite warm and dry, with very low humidity, and winters are cool and bracing, as opposed to cold and shiver-inducing.

Blenheim is on the Wairau Plain, surrounded by mountains to the north, west and south. Those mountains are very important for the town's climate. The southern mountains protect the plain from cold winter winds and snow, and the western mountains from the very wet weather of the west coast of the South Island.

January is usually the sunniest month in Blenheim, and June and July the least sunny and, predictably, the rainiest.

Blenheim's wonderful weather attracts a lot of retirees and those who live alternative lifestyles.

Nelson is one of New Zealand's sunniest places

Nelson

Nelson is a coastal town about 60 km west of Blenheim and is also part of the Marlborough region. Like Blenheim, Nelson gets an average of 6.8 sunshine hours per day. And the pattern of sunshine hours throughout the year is basically the same as for Blenheim.

Nelson has about 50,000 inhabitants and is the biggest fishing port in New Zealand (and even bigger than Australia's biggest). Forestry, farming and market gardening make up the other main industries. Nelson was also a major international tourist destination before the advent of the coronavirus. A major feature of Nelson is its arts and crafts scene, which includes the annual Nelson Arts Festival.

Rabbit Island is a popular beach to soak up the sun only 20 minutes from Nelson.

Lake Tekapo

Lake Tekapo is a small town in the South Island, about a 3-hour drive mainly west of Christchurch. As the name suggests, the town is on the shore of beautiful Lake Tekapo, which is one of New Zealand's famous lakes. Lake Tekapo is the fourth sunniest spot in New Zealand with an average of 6.6 sunshine hours per day.

However, Tekapo (as it is often called, so as to distinguish the town from the lake) is by no means a warm part of New Zealand. Lake Tekapo doesn't get much above about 14 degrees Celsius (58 degrees Fahrenheit) or below about 3 degrees Celsius (38 degrees Fahrenheit).

The town of Lake Tekapo has very clear air and, being so rural, little light pollution. This makes it ideal for stargazing, and the town has an observatory for that purpose that visitors can take nighttime tours of. Other tourist attractions are the ski fields about 30 km from Lake Tekapo, and the natural thermal spa, the Tekapo Hot Springs.

Tauranga

Tauranga is in the North Island of New Zealand, and gets an average of 6.4 sunshine hours per day. This makes Tauranga the fifth sunniest spot in New Zealand.

Tauranga is on the North Island's east coast, about 90 km west of New Zealand's sunniest town, Whakatane. It has a population of about 150,000, making it the fifth largest New Zealand's city.

Like Nelson, Tauranga is also a port town, and in fact has one of New Zealand's largest and busiest ports, mainly handling exports from New Zealand to the rest of the world.

The main industry around Tauranga is horticulture, with thousands of hectares of kiwifruit and avocado orchards, in particular.

The ocean off Tauranga is quite warm, with a lot of reefs and small islands, making scuba diving a popular sport, and a big tourist draw. Mount Maunganui Beach, indeed, is one of New Zealand's most popular holiday spots.

Map of New Zealand's sunniest towns

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Auckland Botanic Gardens

2025-11-30T00:40:00.001+13:00

Auckland Botanic Gardens

Separated into several distinct sections the gardens make for a great day out

Auckland Botanic Gardens in Manurewa opened in 1982 and covers 64 hectares (156 acres) of land, including 10 hectares of native New Zealand forest. It is owned and operated by Auckland Council.

The gardens consist of multiple sections. These include an African Plants Garden, Camellia Garden, Conifer Garden, Edible Garden, Harakeke Collection, Herb Garden, Palm Garden, Rose Garden, and Trial Garden to name just a few.

Jackfruit- the largest of the tree fruits

The Gondwana Arboretum hosts ancient conifers, cycads and ferns, descendants of tree species that flourished millions of years ago. The Magnolia Garden is a must-see in winter and spring with its magnificent magnolias from East and Southeast Asia as well as a collection of New Zealand-bred varieties.

The Orchard is home to bananas, citrus, macadamias, pears, feijoas, figs, plums, persimmon and more.

The Native Forest section has nikau palm and tree fern groves and provides a safe environment for a variety of birds.

Visit the Urban Trees area and discover a variety of small trees that can be planted in household gardens.

A constant source of inspiration for New Zealand gardeners

Access - Getting There

102 Hill Road
Manurewa
Tel: (09) 267 1457
www: aucklandbotanicgardens.co.nz

Free entry
Summer Hours: Open every day; Gardens 8 am - 8 pm; Visitor Centre Huakaiwaka 8 am - 4.30 pm
Winter Hours: Open every day; Gardens 8 am - 6 pm; Visitor Centre Huakaiwaka 8 am - 4.30 pm

The Visitor Centre Huakaiwaka is closed on Christmas Day only.

Auckland Botanic Gardens is about 25 km south from the centre of Auckland. Take the Southern Motorway (SH1), and exit at the Manurewa/Hill Road exit (exit 451). Turn left onto Hill Road, the main entrance to the Gardens is the first driveway on the left.

By public transport take bus #366 runs from the Manurewa bus interchange to the Gardens. The nearest train station is Manurewa Station on the Southern Line from Britomart Transport Centre in Auckland CBD.

The gardens opened to the public in 1982

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New Zealand Food - What Do Kiwis Eat and Drink?

2025-09-22T00:44:00.001+12:00

New Zealand Food

New Zealand has a high rainfall, fertile soil, and a lot of land in relation to the size of its population, meaning the country is self-sufficient in food.

Most New Zealanders are descended from British settlers, so New Zealanders eating and drinking habits strongly reflect British culinary traditions - but of course with distinctive differences.

Meat and three veg - the typical, traditional New Zealand meal.

Traditional New Zealand food

The traditional New Zealand family meal can be summed up as "meat and veg," typically mutton or beef plus three or four different vegetables. The range of vegetables chosen from is wide, but nearly always includes potatoes, as well as carrots, green peas, pumpkin, spinach, and beetroot, to name a few.

Most New Zealanders live in a bungalow on a plot of land with a lawn out the front and often a vegetable garden at the back. My father was, like many Kiwis, the outdoors type and a keen gardener who, during our childhood in the 1960s to 1980s, grew nearly all the vegetables we needed. The vegetables were usually boiled. Some, such as beetroot, were preserved in vinegar by mum when dad harvested them and the jars opened throughout the next few months. The main (or only) condiments were pepper and salt.

Meat

Sheep provide New Zealanders with cheaper meat, known as mutton.

As for the meat we ate, it was all from the butcher (our town had no supermarket back then) and often the cheaper mutton, or the slightly less cheap lamb, rather than the more expensive beef. Sausages were another common presence on the plate, eaten with mustard or tomato sauce. The casserole was another New Zealand family favourite, usually served on a weekend evening.

Meals featuring fish or chicken were interspersed. Friday was usually fish and chips day, when mum would take a cooking holiday, and dad would bring home fish and chips.

Meat pies are another staple fast food in New Zealand. A meat pie is typically a hand-sized round or oblong pastry filled with shredded cooked meat.

Dairy

Cheese, a higher-end product of New Zealand's dairy industry.

New Zealand has a huge dairy industry, with consumption of dairy products to match. Milk, butter and cheese are used extensively in New Zealand cooking. Cheese and potato is a very common combination, often baked together in a dish in the oven.

In recent decades, New Zealand has developed a more sophisticated cheese industry, the most popular accompaniment being wine—another product that New Zealand has made a name for itself with over the past half-century.

Fruit

Kiwifruit is New Zealand's best known export fruit.

New Zealand is well-known around the world as a major producer of kiwifruit. However, New Zealand is also a major producer of apples, grown mostly in Hawkes Bay, which is one of New Zealand's sunniest regions. New Zealand grapes, in the form of wine, as well as avocadoes, are also big export crops.

Fish and Chips

Fish and chips are the great traditional New Zealand take-out food. American-style fast food came to New Zealand in the 1970s and has made great inroads into what was once fish-and-chips' territory, but even today, few if any New Zealand towns are without at least one fish and chip shop.

In the good ol' days fish and chips were wrapped up in a sheet of white paper then in newspaper.

Maori Food Culture

Kumara and pototoes: New Zealand staple foods

Maori and pakeha food cultures have virtually fused in today's New Zealand. The original Maori settlers brought root vegetables, most notably the sweet potato known as kumara, from their Pacific Island homeland.

The kumara has become part of the staple diet of all New Zealanders, and is an essential part of any vegetable garden.

The Maori also used the rich array of ferns, berries, roots, seeds, fish (whitebait) and birds that New Zealand's wilderness was rich in. A great many New Zealand native bird species are flightless, making them easy prey for humans. The biggest of them all, the moa was once one of the world's biggest birds, the largest species standing at about 3.6 m (about 12 feet). Early Maori society was based on moa-hunting, but the bird was hunted to extinction within the first century of Maori settlement of New Zealand.

A hangi in progress, with food being placed underground.

Maori cooking was typically hangi, or cooking by pit oven, using heated stones, and burying the food between bark and large leaves until it was cooked.

Maori agriculture is little different today from New Zealand agriculture in general. For more information, see the Tāhuri Whenua Incorporated Society the National Maori Vegetable Growers Collective website.

New Zealand Food Today

While "meat and three veg" is still alive as a staple part of the New Zealand diet, things have diversified greatly in the past few decades, especially with the burgeoning of the New Zealand wine industry.

Gourmet food has a much higher profile in New Zealand than it used to, reflecting the global influences channeled by the internet and the popularity of international travel.

Furthermore, Asian New Zealanders have also made their mark on New Zealand cuisine, with few towns or cities being without an Asian restaurant or food store.

Must-Try New Zealand Foods

If you're visiting New Zealand, there are a few foods that you should make a point of trying. If you like seafood, in particular, then New Zealand has a lot of unique offerings.

Crayfish (AKA rock lobster) is prized for its succulent flesh, which has a certain sweetness to it.

Paua, a native New Zealand abalone.

Paua (a kind of abalone) is a strong-flavoured shellfish with a shell whose inner surface is used for decorative purposes. It is typically served as fritters, but requires careful cooking to prevent the flesh getting tough.

Kina is a native New Zealand sea urchin. If you like the flavour of foie gras, then you will probably enjoy the rich, tangy, earthy taste of kina.

Whitebait is the collective name for the young of five species of fish in New Zealand. Due to overfishing, whitebait is not as plentiful as it used to be, and is now quite expensive. In spite of this, whitebait do not have a particularly distinctive flavour. What taste they do have is readily overpowered by the batter they are often cooked in, so careful preparation is required.

Bluff oysters are oysters from the cold waters of Foveaux Strait, which runs between the South Island and Stewart Island. The season is short: March to August, and demand is high. Bluff oysters therefore often take some effort to acquire, or at least some money, so are for the most dedicated gourmands only.

Green-lipped mussel is a native New Zealand mussel that is better known for its supposedly anti-inflammatory properties, for which reason it is usually sold as a health product. However, this large shellfish (which grows up to 24 cm long) is popular on dinner plates too for their size and succulence.

New Zealand scallop is another shellfish loved of foodies love but, again, are often in short supply due to their being seasonal and in high demand.

Snapper, arguably New Zealand's best-tasting fish.

Snapper is possibly New Zealand's favourite fish, with pinkish-white, soft, flaky flesh, with few bones, and a slightly sweet flavour. This species of sea bream is found mainly in and around the North Island.

Salmon is an introduced fish in New Zealand, but has been part of the landscape for over a century. Salmon fishing in New Zealand rivers is one of the country's greatest pastimes. The salmon season is from October to April, when New Zealand rivers become second home to anglers. However, much of New Zealand's salmon is farmed. King salmon is especially recommended for its rich oiliness and delicacy of flavour.

Manuka honey, a New Zealand product with a reputation for health and great flavour.

Manuka honey is another New Zealand delicacy that should be tried if you're visiting—not least because you can pick up this rare, delectable honey quite a bit cheaper in New Zealand than overseas.

Kia mākona! (Maori for "Enjoy your meal!", "Bon appetit!")

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Huka Falls Waikato River

2025-08-02T17:11:00.000+12:00

Huka Falls, Waikato River

Access | Other Waterfalls in New Zealand

Huka Falls on the Waikato River, North Island, New Zealand.

Huka Falls is near the town of Taupo on the Waikato River. The river is the longest in New Zealand and known for its white-water rafting.

The falls are one of the most visited natural attractions in the country.

In the Maori language "huka" means foam which is appropriate, as the river gushes 20 metres down through a narrow 20-meter wide gorge.

The force of the water is incredible. 220,000 litres of water per second, in fact, pours down the waterfall. The super blue colour comes from the clarity of the water reflecting blue light.

The volume of water would fill an Olympic swimming pool in 11 seconds

Access - Getting There

The car park for the falls is about 1.6 km north of Taupō. A sightseeing bus passes on a circuit several times a day.

The Huka Falls trail follows the river. The walk is about 90 minutes from Spa Thermal Park to the falls.

There are also river cruises and jet boat trips to the base of the falls.

The i-Site in Taupō has information on getting to the falls, buses and boat trips.

Taupo i-SITE

30 Tongariro Street, Taupo
Tel: +64 7 376 0027

Huka Falls

Other Waterfalls in New Zealand

New Zealand's plentiful rivers and lakes mean it is blessed with some super scenic waterfalls.

Bridal Veils Falls

Huka jet boat trip

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Napier Guide North Island

2025-07-12T18:28:00.002+12:00

Napier Guide

History | Architecture | Access - Getting There | Auckland Airport

The Dome, T&G Building, Napier, Hawkes Bay.

The town of Napier, population around 67,000, is located on the eastern coast of New Zealand's North Island in the Hawke's Bay region. Napier is Hawke's Bay's showcase city, a beautiful town, partly on the flat, partly on a hill, beside the sea.

History

Originally settled by Maori tribes such as Ngāti Kahungunu, the area later became a center for European settlers in the mid-19th century, officially becoming a borough in 1874.

The devastating 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake destroyed Napier and claimed over 250 lives. It was rebuilt in the architectural style that was fashionable at the time: art deco.

National Tobacco Company Building (1933)

Architecture

Lovingly maintained, Napier is an architectural gem, beautifully landscaped, that anyone can appreciate for its simple, elegant beauty. The Daily Telegraph Building on Tennyson Street is a standout. The National Tobacco Company Building aka Rothman's Building is work of the architect Louis Hay. It was commissioned by Gerhard Husheer, the German-born businessman and pioneer of New Zealand's tobacco industry.

Statue of Pania (aka Pania of the Reef unveiled in 1954)

Attractions

Museums and other attractions include the MTG Hawke's Bay - a museum-theatre-gallery space in Napier and the National Aquarium of New Zealand also in Napier.

Constructed in 1862 and closed as a prison in 1993, Napier Prison on Napier Hill remains the oldest prison complex in the country. In 2002 the prison complex opened as a tourist attraction. The Statue of Pania (unveiled in 1954), also known as Pania of the Reef, stands on Marine Parade in Napier, and commemorates the legendary Māori figure Pania.

Step back in time during Napier's Art Deco Festival which takes place in February and attracts in excess of 40,000 visitors. It features over 200 events. Highlights include live entertainment, outdoor concerts, vintage car parades, fashion shows, and the iconic Great Gatsby picnic.

McLean Park is one of the largest cricket grounds in New Zealand and also hosts rugby union games.

Nearby is Cape Kidnappers Gannet Colony and many vineyards around Bay View and the Esk Valley.

Napier Prison is now a popular tourist attraction

Agriculture

Forestry and sheep farming are both important in the region. In 2018, almost 2 million tons of logs were exported from the Port of Napier.

Wine & Dine

Crab Farm near Napier (511 Main Road, Bay View) serves great food and, of course, unforgettably good wine from the premises.

Access - Getting There

Hawke's Bay Airport is 8 km north of Napier. It has flights to and from Auckland, Blenheim, Christchurch, and Wellington. There are buses to Napier from Taupo, Rotorua and Wellington. Buses stop at Clive Square Bus Stop in Napier and Napier i-SITE is at 100 Marine Parade (Tel: 06 834 1911).

The Gilray Fountain, aka the Spirit of Napier, along Marine Parade

Accommodation

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Whakarewarewa - the Living Maori Village

2025-06-22T16:49:00.002+12:00

Whakarewarewa

Traditional hot-spring cooking techniques on display at Whakarewarewa

Whakarewarewa is a New Zealand settlement that styles itself as "the living Maori village." It is located in the central North Island, in Rotorua, which is famous for its extensive geothermal activity.

Geothermal activity provided an ample source of energy to the Maori, with steam and hot water freely emitting from the ground, which they used mainly for cooking and bathing.

But later generations of the Maori residents of Whakarewarewa have used the village's thermal resources not just for heating, bathing, washing and cooking, but for tourism.

Entrance to Whakarewarewa

The Pink and White Terraces were still in existence at that time, about 20 km away. The people of Whakarewarewa took advantage of the curiosity of European settlers to see this natural wonder by acting as guides. (Unfortunately, the terraces were destroyed in 1886 with the eruption of Mt. Tarawera.)

Monument to pioneering guides of Whakarewarewa Village

Then, in 1883, the government established Rotorua as a spa town, and by 1894 Rotorua was connected to Auckland by rail. This further boosted Whakarewarewa as a village that turned tourism into its livelihood.

Village Tour

Traditional Maori dance performance, Whakarewarewa

The village of Whakarewarewa is almost entirely Maori in terms of the people living there and the style of the buildings. Tourists are taken through the village with stories of how it has survived amid this almost unearthly landscape, including disasters such as the eruption of a nearby volcano in the late 19th century.

Visitors can see how Maori have traditionally made use of the geothermal resources, and how they live their lives, entertain themselves, and carry out the practices and rituals of Maori everyday life. Furthermore, they get to hear the stories associated with each natural feature and understand how Maori lore draws so intimately on the land.

Geothermal Nature Trails

Walkways around the geothermal features surrounding Whakarewarewa Village

There are several walking tracks around Whakerewarewa of differing lengths and degrees of fitness required. They take the visitor through unspoiled native forest and past bubbling mud pools, geysers, and steam eerily wafting from the ground here and there, making for a landscape unfamiliar to most visitors.

Unlike the village tour, the nature walks are self-guided.

The geothermal landscape of Whakarewarewa Village

The Name: Whakarewarewa

Long as the name might be, Whakarewarewa is actually an abbreviation of a phrase that means "The gathering place for the war parties of Wahiao" Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao, but goes back several generations to the Te Arawa tribe, which has inhabited the area the village is in for over six centuries.

Access - Getting There

17 Tryon Street
Tel: 07 349 3463

Rotorua Airport is 9 km to the northeast. It has flights to Auckland, Wellington Airport in Wellington, and Christchurch. Rotorua i-SITE is at 1167 Fenton Street. From here long-distance buses leave for Auckland, Napier, Taupo, and Wellington.

Nearby

Pohutu is the largest geyser in New Zealand

Pohutu is the largest geyser in New Zealand. It erupts up to 20 times a day sending hot water 30 metres into the sky. The name translates as "big splash" or "explosion" in Maori.

The Prince of Wales' Feathers geyser is adjacent and reaches a height of about 8 metres. The name comes from a visit in 1920 by the Prince of Wales to the area when someone likened the geyser's shape to the feather in the prince's hat.

The Redwoods - Whakarewarewa Forest is just a little east of Whakerewarewa Village. It is suited to visitors of all levels of fitness, and a sight to see both by day and by night when it features a nighttime laser show.

Where nature and humans live in harmony: the grounds of Whakarewarewa Village

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Auckland Ferry Terminal

2025-06-11T21:26:00.001+12:00

Auckland Ferry Terminal

History | Ferries | Nearby

The old Auckland Ferry Terminal building on Quay Street on the waterfront dates from 1912. A more modern building now serves as the hub for ferry transport in and out of the city.

Auckland Ferry Building

History

The old ferry building was constructed at considerable cost out of brick, granite, and sandstone. It was designed by architect Alex Wiseman and took 3 years to build. The structure has been designated a Category I building with Heritage New Zealand. Nowadays, the building houses a variety of shops and cafes with the modern building handling day-to-day ferry operations.

Auckland Ferry Terminal has sailings to various destinations

Ferries

Ferries depart for a variety of destinations from Auckland Ferry Terminal (aka Downtown Ferry Terminal or Ferry Building). There are sailings to Bayswater, Beach Haven, Birkenhead, Coromandel, Devonport, Gulf Harbour, Half Moon Bay, Northcote Point, Orapiu, Port Fitzroy, Motutapu, Rakino Island in the Hauraki Gulf, Rotoroa Island, Stanley Island and Tryphena Wharf on Great Barrier Island.

The ferry terminal is in Auckland's CBD

Nearby

Within easy walking distance of the ferry terminal is Britomart Transport Centre which contains Britomart Train Station in the former Edwardian post office building and a bus station. The train station is a terminus for four suburban lines - the Eastern Line to Manukau, the Onehunga Line to Onehunga, the Southern Line to Pukekohe, and the Western Line to Swanson. From the nearby Customs Street stop, the Skybus runs out to Auckland Airport.

Hotels in Auckland

The Hilton Auckland is right on Princes Wharf with great views out to sea.

Map

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Fensham Reserve Carterton New Zealand

2025-05-31T17:28:00.004+12:00

Fensham Reserve, Carterton, New Zealand

History | Accommodation | Access

Fensham Reserve, located just outside Carterton in the Wairarapa region of New Zealand, is a 48-hectare native bush reserve renowned for its rich biodiversity and tranquil walking trails.

History

Established in 1957, Fensham Reserve was originally purchased by John Fensham in 1883 with the intent to preserve the forest. Upon his passing, his daughter Ruby Fensham gifted the land to the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society. The reserve was officially declared protected private land in 2001 under the Reserves Act 1977.

The reserve encompasses a diverse range of ecosystems, including primary forest, regenerating forest, and wetlands. It is home to ancient podocarp trees, some believed to be between 400 and 700 years old. Additionally, the Carrington Water Race, established over a century ago, passes through the reserve, providing water for irrigation and domestic use.

Accommodation in Carterton

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Access - Getting There

Fensham Reserve is located approximately 3 kilometers west of Carterton. There are two main entrances.

Cobden Road Entrance: From Carterton, turn west onto Belvedere Road, drive about 2 kilometers, and turn right onto Cobden Road. The reserve is located at the junction of Cobden and Haringa Roads.

Upper Belvedere Road Entrance: Continue west on Belvedere Road for another kilometer to reach the second entrance. This entrance provides access to a picnic area and additional walking tracks.

Parking is available at both entrances. Please note that dogs are not permitted due to regular pest control operations.

Carterton itself, a town with less than 6,000 people, lies about 90 kilometers northeast of Wellington, making it roughly a 1.5-hour drive via State Highway 2, which passes through scenic countryside and small towns. For those using public transport, the Wairarapa Line train connects Carterton to Wellington and other nearby towns, providing a convenient and picturesque rail journey.

The Metlink bus 200 connects Carterton with Masterton, Greytown, Featherston and Martinborough.

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Mount Aspiring National Park

2025-05-28T00:44:00.001+12:00

Mount Aspiring National Park, New Zealand

Attractions | Accommodation | Access

A View of Mount Aspiring National Park

Mount Aspiring National Park, is the third largest of New Zealand's 13 national parks after Fiordland and Kahurangi. It lies in the Southern Alps of the South Island, north of Fiordland National Park. The Southern Alps stretch along the entire length of the South Island.

The park covers an area of 3,562 square kilometres (1,375 square miles). It was established in 1964 and was the country's 10th national park at the time.

Mount Aspiring / Tititea (in Maori) gives its name to the park rises to 3,033 metres and is the highest peak in it. Various walking tracks cross the area including the well-known Gillespie Pass circuit.

The park is part of Te Wahipounamu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that includes several other protected areas in the South Island.

The alpine scenery of Tititea / Mount Aspiring National Park

Attractions

The park is renowned for its dramatic, glacier-carved valleys, pristine rivers, waterfalls, and spectacular alpine scenery. The landscape includes beech forests, tussock grasslands, and rugged mountains.

Home to a wide range of native New Zealand flora and fauna, visitors can find native bird species such as the kea, New Zealand falcon, and parakeets. The native forests include silver beech, red beech, and mountain beech trees.

A paradise for outdoor enthusiasts, Mount Aspiring provides opportunities for tramping, mountaineering, rock climbing, fishing, kayaking, and photography.

In addition, the park contains an intricate system of limestone caves and sinkholes that create a captivating underground landscape for adventurous explorers.

One of the park's highlights is the Rob Roy Glacier, a popular day hike destination. It offers breathtaking views of the glacier, waterfalls, and also the surrounding landscape.

The main Department of Conservation (DOC) Visitor Centre with information on the park is in Wanaka.

1 Ballantyne Road
Wanaka 9305
Tel: (02) 726 96871

Queenstown Visitor Centre
50 Stanley Street
Queenstown
9300
Tel: (03) 442 7935

The Matukituki River drains into Lake Wānaka

Accommodation

Some places to stay include the Wanaka Hotel, a 1-minute walk from the lake and town centre.

The luxury Edgewater Hotel offers beautiful lake views, spas, a sauna, and a tennis court.

The Alpine Motel provides self-contained units with free off-street parking and free WiFi. In addition, there is satellite TV and a well-equipped kitchen.

Find accommodation in Wanaka.

The peaks of the Matukituki Valley

Access - Getting There

The town of Wanaka serves as the main gateway to the park.

The nearest major airport is Queenstown Airport, which is approximately 68 kilometers (42 miles) from Wanaka. You can fly into Queenstown from major New Zealand cities like Auckland Airport (AKL), Wellington International Airport (WLG), and Christchurch. From Queenstown, you can rent a car and drive or take a shuttle to Wanaka, which is about an hour's journey away.

Edgewater Hotel

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i-SITE Visitor Information Centres

2025-05-23T19:57:00.000+12:00

i-SITE Visitor Information Centres in New Zealand

Meeting Points | Listing | Accommodation

i-Sites are tourist information centres found all over New Zealand in an official network of over 80 in the major towns and tourist hotspots.

Established by what is now Tourism New Zealand back in 1990, i-Sites are privately owned and operate on a franchise system.

They offer masses of maps, brochures and bus timetables etc along with a mine of local information on what's on and where to go. Both local and long-distance buses often leave from outside the centres. Many i-Sites now provide free WiFi, too. Most also have their own websites as well (see the listing below).

Meeting Points

The official website (isite.nz) in English and Chinese has a list and finder for all the i-Sites in New Zealand. They often act as meeting points for tours and they are also a good place to share information with other travellers. A few are even tourist attractions in their own right!

The Department of Conservation (DOC) also runs a network of visitor centres, mainly in the country's National Parks.

Over 3 million overseas tourists normally visit New Zealand every year with the majority from Australia, followed by China and the USA. Tourism New Zealand's YouTube channel (100% Pure New Zealand) and its Instagram account (instagram.com/purenewzealand) should both be part of your pre-departure preparation and a visit to i-Site when you arrive at your destination.

Some i-Sites and DOC Visitor Centres in New Zealand

Auckland i-SITE Visitor Information Centre - SkyCity
Cnr Victoria & Federal Streets
Victoria Street
Auckland Central

Auckland i-SITE Visitor Information Centre - Princes Wharf
Shop 2, Shed 19/137 Quay Street
Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010

Blenheim i-SITE Visitor Centre
8 Sinclair Street
Blenheim
Tel: 03 577 8080

DOC Aoraki/Mount Cook
1 Larch Grove, Aoraki / Mount Cook
Tel: 03 435 1186

DOC Ōtautahi / Christchurch Visitor Centre
28 Worcester Boulevard
Christchurch

Dunedin i-SITE Visitor Information Centre
50 The Octagon
Dunedin City
Dunedin Central

Fiordland i-SITE Visitor Information Centre
85 Lakefront Drive
Te Anau

Hastings i-SITE Visitor Information Centre
Westermans Building
Corner of Russell Street and Heretaunga Street East
Tel: 06 873 5526

Havelock North i-SITE Visitor Information Centre
1 Te Aute Road
Tel: 06 877 9600

Matamata i-SITE Visitor Information Centre
45 Broadway
Matamata

Motueka i-SITE Visitor Information Centre
20 Wallace St, Motueka 7120
Tel: 03 528 6543

Napier i-SITE Visitor Information Centre
100 Marine Parade
Tel: 06 834 1911

Queenstown i-SITE Visitor Information Centre
Clocktower Building
Cnr Shotover & Camp Street
Central Queenstown

DOC Pōneke / Wellington Visitor Centre
18 Manners Street
Wellington Central

Rotorua i-SITE
1167 Fenton Street
Tel: 07 349 3463

Rotoiti / Nelson Lakes Visitor Centre
View Road St Arnaud 7053
Tel: (03) 521 1806

Takaka i-SITE
16 Willow St, Takaka 7110
Tel: 03-525 9136

Taupo i-SITE
30 Tongariro Street, Taupo
Tel: +64 7 376 0027

Tauranga i-SITE
103 The Strand
Tauranga 3110
Tel: 07 578 8103

Whakatū / Nelson Visitor Centre

Millers Acre/Taha o te Awa
79 Trafalgar Street, Nelson 7010
Tel: 03 546 9339

Wellington i-SITE Visitor Information Centre
111 Wakefield Street
Wellington Central

Whitianga i-SITE
66 Albert Street
Whitianga
Tel: 07 866 5555

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Taranaki Maunga

2025-04-12T14:54:00.002+12:00

Mount Taranaki, Egmont National Park, New Zealand

History | Accommodation | Access

Taranaki Maunga; photo by David Stormer

Mount Taranaki (Taranaki Maunga) is a presently dormant volcano in Egmont National Park. At 2,518 metres (8,261 feet) Taranaki is the second highest mountain in the North Island, after Mount Ruapehu. Captain Cook named the mountain, "Mount Egmont" but this was changed to its Maori name in 1986 and becoming 'Taranaki Maunga' in 2025.

The mountain is the centerpiece of the Egmont/Taranaki national park. It is an active, though presently dormant, stratovolcano with a perfectly symmetrical cone-shaped peak.

The last major eruption was in 1655 with minor activity in 1854.

Hiking to the summit is a popular activity for experienced climbers, but there are also many well-marked trails of varying difficulties for visitors to enjoy. Due to its resemblance to Mount Fuji in Japan, Taranaki provided the backdrop for the 2003 film The Last Samurai, starring Tom Cruise.

Taranaki from the Pouakai Circuit tramping track

History

The mountain is estimated to be around 120,000 years old. It stands alone on the Taranaki Peninsula, surrounded by flat, fertile plains. The symmetrical cone is the result of numerous andesitic lava flows and pyroclastic eruptions. The mountain is considered dormant but still active geologically, with future eruptions possible.

The mountain holds deep spiritual significance for Māori, particularly the Taranaki iwi (tribes). According to legend, Taranaki once lived among other mountains (Tongariro, Ruapehu, and Ngauruhoe) in the central North Island. After losing a battle over the beautiful mountain Pihanga, Taranaki fled west, carving out the Whanganui River as he went, and settled in his current location.

The mountain is considered a tapu (sacred place), and Māori ask visitors to treat it with respect. It's customary not to stand on the summit, which is considered the head of the mountain.

Taranaki Maunga is New Zealand's most perfectly shaped volcano

In 1770, Captain James Cook sighted the mountain and named it Mount Egmont in honor of John Perceval, the 2nd Earl of Egmont. In 1985, the New Zealand Geographic Board (NZGB) approved a resolution: "That the name of the mountain revert to its original name 'Taranaki' but that the name 'Egmont' be continued as a secondary name in brackets." The following year in 1986, following a decision by the Minister of Lands, the name became 'Mount Taranaki or Mount Egmont.' In April 2025, the name changed again to Taranaki Maunga with Egmont dropped completely.

Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki DOC

The Department of Conservation (DOC) Visitor Centre is at 2879 Egmont Road (PO Box 462 New Plymouth 4340). Tel: 06 756 0990; 8.30 am to 4.30 pm daily.

Mount Taranaki (now Taranaki Maunga since 2025)

Accommodation in New Plymouth

The 341 square kilometre Egmont National Park and Mount Taranaki lie close to the west coast of the North Island near the town of New Plymouth. New Plymouth offers a variety of accommodation and eating options.

Try The Devon Hotel with a heated outdoor pool and free use of mountain bikes.

The modern Novotel New Plymouth Taranaki has an onsite restaurant and bar.

The Plymouth International provides both air conditioning and cable TV.

Find accommodation in New Plymouth.

Access - Getting There

The fastest and most convenient way to reach New Plymouth from Wellington is by air. You can book a domestic flight from Wellington International Airport (WLG) to New Plymouth Airport (NPL). The flight duration is approximately 45 minutes. From Auckland Airport (AKL) to New Plymouth Airport the flight duration is approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.

If you prefer to drive, you can take State Highway 1 (SH1) from Wellington to Bulls, then switch to State Highway 3 (SH3) and continue north to New Plymouth. The approximate driving distance is around 355 kilometers (220 miles), and the journey takes about 4.5 to 5 hours, depending on traffic and road conditions. From Auckland take State Highway 1 (SH1) and continue south until you reach State Highway 3 (SH3). Take SH3 towards New Plymouth, the approximate driving distance is around 350 kilometers (220 miles). The journey takes about 4.5 to 5 hours, depending on traffic and road conditions.

Several bus companies operate services between Wellington and New Plymouth. Intercity and Skip Bus are two popular options. The bus journey takes around 6 to 7 hours, depending on the route and stops. It is advisable to check the schedules and book your tickets in advance. The bus from Auckland takes around 6 to 7 hours, depending on the route and stops.

You can also combine a train and bus journey to reach New Plymouth from Wellington. Take the Northern Explorer train from Wellington Railway Station to Palmerston North, and from there, catch a connecting bus to New Plymouth. The total travel time can vary but generally takes around 7 to 8 hours.

Due to its resemblance to Mount Fuji in Japan, Taranaki provided the backdrop for the 2003 film The Last Samurai

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St Paul's Cathedral Dunedin

2025-04-03T02:01:00.002+13:00

St Paul's Cathedral, Dunedin

History | Access | St Joseph's Cathedral

St Paul's Cathedral, Dunedin

Consecrated in 1919, St Paul's Cathedral (The Cathedral Church of St Paul the Apostle) in Dunedin is made entirely of Oamaru stone.

Its vaulted ceiling is the only one of its kind in the country. The stained glass windows of this impressive Anglican church are also some of the finest in New Zealand.

The church is the mother church of the Anglican Diocese of Dunedin and also the seat of the Bishop of Dunedin.

St Paul's Cathedral, Dunedin

History

A church was first built on the present site in the 1860s but was replaced in the early 20th century by the present building. However, lack of funds meant the church we see today was not fully finished until the 1970s with the completion of a new chancel in modernist style.

Access - Getting There

228 Stuart Street
Central Dunedin
Dunedin 9016
Tel: 64 (03) 477 2336
www: stpaulsnz.net

Usual Sunday services are at 8 am the Book of Common Prayer Eucharist followed by the Choral Mass with Hymns and Sermon at 10 am and at 6 pm Choral Evensong with Sermon.

St Joseph's Cathedral

St Joseph's Cathedral is the Roman Catholic cathedral in the city. It was built in the late 19th century and designed by Francis Petre, a local architect and prolific builder of churches in New Zealand.

St Paul's Cathedral (left), Burns' statue (centre) and the Municipal Chambers on the Octagon

Cathedrals in New Zealand

Cathedrals in Britain

The Cathedral Church of St Paul the Apostle

Hotels in New Zealand

Some recommended places to stay in Dunedin include the Victoria Hotel Dunedin, the Kingsgate Hotel, and the Law Courts Hotel.

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Victoria Park Auckland

2025-03-13T17:59:00.002+13:00

Victoria Park, Auckland

History & Attractions | Victoria Park Market | Access & Map | Hotels in Auckland

Victoria Park in Auckland opened in 1905 and is home to cricket and rugby clubs as well as being a pleasant green space to walk or jog. There are views over to the Sky Tower in the CBD. It is named after Queen Victoria who died in 1901.

Victoria Park, Auckland

History & Attractions

The park was built on reclaimed land using building rubble. London plane trees were planted at the time which are now mature. Meant for active sports, the park does not have decorative flower beds. Victoria Park was the venue for the first ever international rugby league match played in New Zealand. Great Britain played against the New Zealand Maori team here in 1910.

The park is home to Grafton United Cricket Club which maintains the cricket pavilion and also has a skate park, children's play area, and basketball court. The 900-metre path the Victoria Park Path circles the park.

Victoria Park Market

Victoria Park Market, just east of Ponsonby Road in the Ponsonby district, is housed in a former waste depot and incinerator complex. There are several cafes and restaurants as well as stores and studios. The site includes the original 38 metre-tall chimney and the stables for the horses that once pulled the city's rubbish carts.

The 4-star Quest on Beaumont is on the western edge of Victoria Park.

Access & Map

Address: 203-271 Victoria Street West, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010

Auckland Parks

Cornwall Park

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Lake Wakatipu

2025-03-02T16:00:00.008+13:00

New Zealand Lakes Wakatipu

Lake Wakatipu is the longest lake in New Zealand, at 80 km. Queenstown lies on its shore.

Wakatipu is also the third-largest lake in New Zealand as well as being the longest in the country. It is situated in the South Island, near Queenstown, and is famous for its stunning alpine surroundings. The lake was formed by glacial processes during the last ice age, with massive glaciers carving out its deep basin.

The lake exhibits a unique rhythmic rise and fall of its water level, known as the seiche (a standing wave). The water level fluctuates by about 10 cm (4 inches) every 25 minutes, due to atmospheric pressure changes and wind patterns.

The Kawarau River drains the lake, flowing out from its sole outlet, the Frankton Arm, located 8 km (5.0 miles) east of Queenstown. The Dart and Rees rivers flow into the northern end of the lake.

The waters of Lake Wakatipu from the Queenstown gondola ropeway

Stats

Length: 80 km (50 mi)
Width: Up to 5 km (3.1 mi)
Depth: 380 m (1,247 feet) at its deepest point
Surface Area: 291 sq km (112 sq mi)
Elevation: 310 m (1,017 feet) above sea level

The lake holds great significance for the indigenous Māori people, particularly the Ngāi Tahu tribe

Maori Legend

According to a Maori legend Lake Wakatipu was formed, thus.

Matakauri was a young commoner who longed to marry the beautiful Manata, a young woman of high status, and she him. But Manata's protective father prohibited the marriage. Then, one day, Manata was abducted by a giant by the name of Matau. So, Matakauri approached Manata's father and offered to rescue her, asking if he could have her hand in marriage if he succeeded. The father assented, and Matakauri set off into the mountains on his quest.

Matakauri knew that when a warm north-west wind blew, it meant Matau was asleep. So, he waited for that wind and eventually got so close to the giant Matau that he could hear the imprisoned Manata weeping. He found her tied up, attached to the giant with a magic rope that, try as he might, he couldn't cut. Manata begged him to go in case the giant awoke and killed him. He refused and tried cutting the ropes all the harder. Manata cried all the more, but her copious tears melted the magic rope, and she was free.

The longest lake in New Zealand

Matakauri and Manata returned to her father, who gave them his blessing, and they married. However, they feared that the giant would one day come looking for her. So, again, Matau ventured into the mountains, found the sleeping giant, and set fire to the bed of bracken he was sleeping on. The giant curled up his legs in pain and was quickly overcome by the heat and smoke. His body sank deep into the earth creating a massive hole which soon filled with snow, melted by the fire, from the surrounding mountains. Only the giant's heart survived and continues to beat. So that's why the lake you see today is in the shape of someone crouching, and why its water level rhythmically rises and falls by 200 mm every 26.7 minutes (due to its seiche).

Today, Lake Wakatipu is a major tourist attraction, with Queenstown located on its shores. It is popular for activities such as boating, year-round trout fishing, jet boating, and scenic cruises, especially aboard the historic TSS Earnslaw steamship (cruises daily). The surrounding mountains, including The Remarkables, make it a hotspot for adventure tourism and photography.

Accommodation

Queenstown offers the best place to base to discover the delights of the lake. Try the 5-star Queenstown Park Boutique Hotel, the 4-star Quest Queenstown Apartments Remarkables Park or the deluxe, 5-star Hotel St Moritz Queenstown - MGallery by Sofitel.

Looking over Lake Wakatipu from a Queenstown hotel

Lake Hauroko

Lake Taupo

Lake Tekapo

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Waterfalls in New Zealand

Lakes in the UK

Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu

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Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park

2025-02-26T22:40:00.003+13:00

Aoraki/Mount Cook, New Zealand

Attractions | Accommodation | Access

A beautiful day in New Zealand with a snow-capped Mount Cook in the distance

Aoraki/Mount Cook is an icon of the country and many visitors flock to Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park to see it. Altogether there are 19 peaks over 3,000 metres in the park including New Zealand's highest mountain at 3754 metres. The park stretches 60 km on the southwestern coast of South Island. The park dates from 1953. The national park forms the majority of New Zealand's sole International Dark Sky Reserve.

It was the 6th to be established of New Zealand's 13 national parks after Tongariro, Egmont, Arthur's Pass, Abel Tasman and Fiordland national parks.

Aoraki/Mount Cook

Attractions

The Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park is known for its spectacular alpine scenery, mountaineering, skiing and scenic flights over the ice. Altogether the park covers some 700 square kilometres.

The Tasman Glacier stretches 27 km and besides its natural beauty provides a landing space for helicopters and small planes. It is also New Zealand's longest glacier.

Other glaciers in the park are the Bonney, Darwin and Murchison glaciers popular with advanced skiers.

Climbing Aoraki/Mount Cook provided Sir Edmund Hillary with the experience to ascend Mount Everest. Other peaks in the park include Elie de Beaumont, La Perouse, Malte Brun, Sefton and Tasman. All are for experienced mountaineers only.

To experience the beautiful nature and varied alpine flora without the risk there are also 10 walking and hiking trails that begin at Aoraki/Mount Cook Village leading to various scenic viewpoints. The easiest is Governors Bush Walk, a 2 km trail through lovely beech trees with abundant birdlife. The most challenging is the 10 km Mueller Hut Route - a 6 to 8-hour climb up to 1800 metres and stunning views. Other walks include the 1 km Blue Lakes and Tasman View (40 minutes), the 4 km Red Tarns Track, the 7 km Kea Point Track, and the 9 km Hooker Valley Track.

Also in the village is the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre complete with a 3D theatre and planetarium. A tribute to the great mountaineer in particular and the mountain area in general the centre, located in the Hermitage Hotel, includes a museum and the Hillary Gallery. Some of the fascinating films shown in the 3D theatre include Hillary on Everest and Primeval New Zealand.

Edmund Hillary (1919-2008) was, along with Sherpa guide Tenzing Norgay, the first person to climb Mount Everest in 1953. During his career as an adventurer, Hillary reached both the North and South poles as well as climbing several other peaks around the world. He dedicated his later life to the Himalayan Trust, helping to build schools and hospitals in Nepal. A statue of Hillary at Mount Cook/Mt Aoraki captures him gazing towards the summit of the mountain. His death was marked with a state funeral.

There are several stunning waterfalls in the park. These include the 230-metre tall Wakefield Falls, Mueller Glacier Waterfalls, best seen in spring or early summer when the glacier is melting and Eugenie Stream Falls, which drops from the Eugenie Glacier.

Alpine plants in the park include the Mount Cook buttercup (Ranunculus lyallii), the world's largest buttercup, the snow tussock and South Island Edelweiss. Altogether there are well over 300 different species to be found.

The Department of Conservation (DOC) Visitor Centre in Aoraki/Mount Cook Village is at 1 Larch Grove, Aoraki / Mount Cook (Tel: 03 435 1186). The centre has displays on the local climate and glaciers as well as the mountaineers who have climbed in the region (several of whom perished here).

Aoraki Mount Cook Alpine Lodge

Accommodation

There are 17 DOC huts scattered within the park providing accommodation for skilled mountaineers.

More casual visitors should head for Aoraki/Mt Cook Village. The village has a range of places to stay. Try the Aoraki Mount Cook Alpine Lodge, a 5-minute walk from Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre.

Aoraki Court Motel is a modern motel with heated guest rooms with double-glazed windows and a flat-screen TV. Each unit has a patio with mountain views.

The Hermitage Hotel at 89 Terrace Road offers four stars, a restaurant, and also houses the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre (see above).

The YHA Mount Cook provides backpacker accommodation with a seasonal barbecue area, a self-catering guest kitchen, and free access to a sauna room.

Find accommodation in Aoraki/Mt Cook Village.

The beautiful scenery of the park

Access - Getting There

Take State Highway 80 to Aoraki/Mt Cook Village on Lake Pukaki. Aoraki/Mt Cook Village itself is at 760 metres. There are buses from both Christchurch and Queenstown.

The nearest towns to the park are Tekapo, on one of New Zealand's famous lakes and Twizel. Both connect by bus to Aoraki/Mt Cook Village.

Lake Tekapo is about a 3-hour drive mainly west of Christchurch. From Christchurch, Tekapo is 227 km on State Highway 8 runs and 256 km from Queenstown. The drive from both places takes about three hours and 30 minutes.

Places to stay include the Godley Hotel offering country-style accommodation in 58 rooms and the luxury Galaxy Boutique Hotel. There are superb views over the lake from the hotel which is close to the Church of the Good Shepherd.

Tekapo Heights offers rooms with a private patio some with great views of the lake.

See a complete list of accommodation in Lake Tekapo.

The stunning flora in the region is another huge draw

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Hawkes Bay Wine Region

2025-02-11T19:55:00.002+13:00

Hawke's Bay

Hawke's Bay is a region of New Zealand on the east coast of the North Island. It is the hinterland of the huge 100 km long Hawke Bay, facing the South Pacific Ocean.

Vineyards, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.

Hawke's Bay is 14,111 square kilometers, about the same size as the state of Connecticut, or the territory of Northern Ireland, and very sparsely populated. The district has just under 200,000 people, most of them living in the two cities of Napier and Hastings. The population is about 75% pakeha (of European origin) and about 25% Maori.

Hawke's Bay's Maori heritage goes back many centuries. By the time Europeans arrived, Hawke's Bay was dominated by the Ngāti Kahungunu tribe, which was one of the first the Europeans made contact with.

Vineyards and Wine

Vineyard, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.

Being on the East Coast, Hawke's Bay is quite dry. Summer is long and hot, and winters are cool, making the area ideal for grape growing. Hawke's Bay produces the second biggest amount of wine in New Zealand after the leader, the Marlborough region (in the north of the South Island).

Hawke's Bay is better suited to producing red wine, whereas Marlborough's wine output is mainly white. One of Hawke's Bay's flagship vineyards is the Te Mata Estate, in Havelock North, established in 1895.

Orchards

Apple blossom, Hastings.

Besides vineyards, Hawke's Bay also has a great number of orchards and market gardens on the plains. In fact, there are more apples than grapes grown by hectare, with squash, peas, and beans coming in third, fourth and fifth place. While Hawkes Bay has some kiwifruit orchards, it is not a major kiwifruit-producing region.

The Hastings Blossom Festival happens in mid-September with a blossom parade to herald the (Southern Hemisphere) spring.

Farming and Forestry

The hills of Hawke's Bay are mainly dedicated to sheep and cattle farming. The more rugged areas are home to commercial forests, mainly of radiata pine, scattered throughout mainly the northern part of Hawkes Bay. In 2018, almost 2 million tons of logs were exported from the Port of Napier.

Food and Drink

Hawke's Bay's many orchards, wineries, and even breweries make it a great place for foodies and wine-lovers. Most wineries welcome visitors, and there are cafes and restaurants throughout Hawke's Bay that, even if remote, make the drive there worthwhile. Besides the aristocrat of them all, Te Mata, there are fun, rustic wineries such as Crab Farm near Napier, serving great food and, of course, unforgettably good wine from the premises.

Not to spoil the party spirit ... but just make sure the driver sticks to the grape juice only, no alcohol! Drink driving in New Zealand is rigorously prosecuted and punishable by a prison term of up to three months or a fine of up to $4,500.

Arts and Entertainment

The Hawke's Bay Arts Festival, happening annually in October, is the region's big-name arts event and features a fun, eclectic mix of artists and performers from Hawkes Bay, the rest of New Zealand, and even the world.

Napier's Art Deco Festival takes place in February.

Museums and other attractions include the MTG Hawke's Bay - a museum-theatre-gallery space in Napier and the National Aquarium of New Zealand also in Napier. Hastings City Art Gallery has displays of contemporary New Zealand and international art including pieces by contemporary Maori artists.

Napier

The Dome, T&G Building, Napier, Hawkes Bay.

Napier is Hawke's Bay's showcase city, a beautiful town, partly on the flat, partly on a hill, beside the sea. The devastating 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake destroyed Napier, and it was rebuilt in the architectural style that was fashionable at the time: art deco. Lovingly maintained, Napier is an architectural gem, beautifully landscaped, that anyone can appreciate for its simple, elegant beauty. The Daily Telegraph Building on Tennyson Street is a standout.

Cape Kidnappers

Gannets at Cape Kidnappers, Hawkes Bay.

Cape Kidnappers is the cape forming the southern end of Hawke Bay. It is famous for its towering cliffs, and a massive colony of gannets at the end. The gannet colony is visitable, with some limitations. But the beach and cliffs alone make for a wonderful, photogenic hike.

Havelock North

St Luke's Anglican Church, Havelock North, Hawkes Bay.

Havelock North is a very small town about 3 km south-east of the much bigger Hastings. This green, elegant little settlement has the 17-hectare Keirunga Gardens, which also features Keirunga Park Railway, a miniature model railway line that goes all around the gardens.

Havelock North also has the towering Te Mata Peak, which rises to 399 meters above sea level. The view from the top of Te Mata Peak is spectacular and includes a view of the winding Tuki Tuki River--a thrill for any landscape photographer. The peak's silhouette is named the Sleeping Giant and, if you see it, you will immediately understand why.

As mentioned above, Havelock North is also home to the famed Te Mata Estate winery. It also has Arataki Honey, one of New Zealand's top apiaries and honey brands.

Access - Getting There

Hastings i-SITE is in the Westermans Building on the corner of Russell Street and Heretaunga Street East (Tel: 06 873 5526). The i-SITE in Havelock North is at 1 Te Aute Road (Tel: 06 877 9600).

Accommodation

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Dunedin Railway Station

2025-02-04T01:33:00.006+13:00

Dunedin Station, Dunedin

History | Taieri Gorge Railway | Access | Hotels in Dunedin

Dunedin Station in Dunedin is one of the city's most recognizable buildings. The station's size speaks to a time (the turn of the twentieth century, to be exact) when Dunedin was a much busier city than it is today.

Dunedin Railway Station

History

Although built in 1904, Dunedin Railway Station looks much older, having been designed in the neo-Baroque style of the day. The station's landscaping, with kempt lawns and beautiful flower gardens, highlights its old-world grandness.

George Troup, the first official architect of New Zealand Railways, designed the station. His efforts earned him the nickname "Gingerbread George" as the station does somewhat resemble an ornate cake or gingerbread. The structure rose out of reclaimed swampland.

Local basalt and Oamaru stone were used in the construction to give the building its distinctive light and dark effect. The southern end of the building is topped by a 37 metre-tall clock tower.

The interior is also ornate with a mosaic floor in the booking hall made from 750,000 Minton tiles imported from Staffordshire in Britain and a porcelain frieze depicting scenes from the railway made by Royal Doulton, another famous British brand.

The platform is also the longest in New Zealand at almost 500 metres.

The decline in rail traffic since its opening means that the station now has other uses. It serves as a restaurant, and New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame is on the top floor. The sports include not just the obvious rugby, cricket, and soccer but also yachting and sheep-shearing!

The station may no longer have regular passenger services, but it is the terminus for the delightful Taieri Gorge Railway.

Dunedin Station dates from the early 20th century

Taieri Gorge Railway

The Taieri Gorge Railway is the country's longest tourist railway. Operated by Dunedin Railways (owned by Dunedin City Council) it runs from Dunedin Station through the picturesque Taieri Gorge along the Taieri River in Otago.

The 60 km route to Middlemarch runs along what once was the Otago Central Railway. Highlights include the restored Wingatui Station and Wingatui Viaduct, the largest wrought iron structure in New Zealand, built in 1887.

Altogether a return trip takes about four hours with two departures daily. For the latest information check dunedinrailways.co.nz

Dunedin Railways also operates another line, the Seasider tourist train along the coast to Palmerston.

1920s style carriage at Hindon

Access - Getting There

Dunedin Railway Station
Anzac Square
Dunedin Central
New Zealand

Other places of interest in Dunedin include Larnach Castle, the Chinese Garden, and St. Paul's Cathedral, one of the most beautiful cathedrals in New Zealand.

The platform is the longest in New Zealand

Hotels in Dunedin

Some recommended places to stay in the city include the Victoria Hotel Dunedin, the Kingsgate Hotel, and the Law Courts Hotel.

Out at Larnach Castle, the Larnach Lodge & Stable Stay has individually decorated rooms some of which are in the converted stables at a more budget level.

Camp Estate offers modern rooms in a Scottish-style manor house complete with crystal chandeliers and a grand marble staircase.

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Image by David Stormer

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Wellington Airport

2025-01-30T03:05:00.000+13:00

Wellington Airport

Terminal | Airlines | Domestic Flights | NZ Airports Map | NZ Airports

Wellington International Airport (WLG) is situated at the southern tip of the North Island in New Zealand's capital city of Wellington.

Eagle in Wellington Airport terminal, inspired by The Hobbit

Of New Zealand's three major airports, Wellington Airport is located closest to the centre of the city it serves.

It is 6 km southeast of the city. In normal circumstances, there are shuttles, Airport Flyer buses and taxis to the centre. Alternatively, the Metlink Route 2 public bus departs from the Hobart Street bus stop. Exit from Door E and follow the signs (a 700 metre or 7-minute walk).

Car hire is available at the airport.

Wellington is nicknamed the "Windy City," for good reason, so aeroplane landings at Wellington Airport can be somewhat bumpy.

Wellington Airport (WLG)

Terminal

Wellington International Airport has a single terminal building.

Airlines serving Wellington International Airport

The following airlines currently fly in and out of Wellington International Airport
Air New Zealand
Air Kaikoura
Fiji Airways
Golden Bay Air
Sounds Air
Originair
Qantas
Virgin Australia
Jetstar Airways

Wellington Airport (formerly known as Rongotai Airport)

Domestic Flights to and from Wellington Airport

There are direct flights between Wellington Airport and the following regional airports throughout New Zealand. (Listed from north to south.)

Hamilton (1 hour 10 minutes)
Tauranga (1 hour 15 minutes)
Rotorua (1 hour 15 minutes)
Gisborne (1 hour 15 minutes)
Taupo (1 hour)
New Plymouth (1 hour)
Napier (1 hour)
Nelson (45 minutes)
Blenheim (30 minutes)
Kaikoura (50 minutes)
Christchurch (1 hour)
Queenstown (1 hour 25 minutes)
Dunedin (1 hour 40 minutes)
Invercargill (2 hours 10 minutes)

Map of Airports in New Zealand

The following is a map of all the airports in New Zealand.

Airports in New Zealand

View of the harbour flying into Wellington

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Geraldine South Canterbury

2025-01-07T12:00:00.009+13:00

Geraldine, South Canterbury

History | Attractions | Access

Geraldine (Maori Heratini) is a relaxing farming town located in the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island. It has a population over just over 3,000 people.

Rainbow near Geraldine; photo by David Stormer

History

The town, originally known as "Talbot Forest," was established in the mid-19th century as a sawmilling and farming settlement. The area's fertile plains and temperate climate attracted European settlers who developed it into a centre for agriculture and timber production.

Attractions

Talbot Forest Scenic Reserve located on the edge of the town, offers walking tracks through native bush, and abundant birdlife.

Geraldine Vintage Car and Machinery Museum has an impressive collection of vintage vehicles, tractors, and farming machinery, offering an insight into New Zealand's rural history.

A 9.5 km drive north from Geraldine, Peel Forest Park Scenic Reserve is the the largest reserve in the Geraldine area andoffers hiking trails, ancient trees, and opportunities to see native wildlife. Popular trails include the Big Tree Walk and the hike to Acland Falls.

Home to a thriving artistic community, Geraldine has several shops selling handmade crafts, jewelry, and artwork. The McAtamney Gallery on Talbot Street is also worth a visit.

Barker's Jam

Famous for their fruit preserves, chutneys, jams and syrups, Barker's Foodstore & Eatery at 70 Talbot Street offers a range of delicious meals. Indeed, one of the standout names on jams and chutneys in supermarkets nationwide in New Zealand is Barkers of Geraldine. This small, family-owned business is also the town's largest employer. All the ingredients for its sauces and preserves are sourced locally. A visit to Barker’s Foodstore & Eatery offers the perfect opportunity to sample their delicious creations and experience firsthand why it truly takes a town to bring them to life.

The Farmyard Animal Experience at Farmyard Holiday Park offers the chance to get up close and personal with Alpacas, Chickens, Ducks, Goats, Guinea pigs, Kune Kune pigs, Rabbits, Sheep, Wallabies and others.

The Geraldine Cinema is housed in a 1920's building that was once the Town Hall.

The Geraldine Historical Society Museum is a free, daily-open museum that showcases the history of the area. It is based in and around the former Town Board Office building on Cox Street.

Geraldine Observatory is unfortunately now permanently closed.

Geraldine Historical Society Museum

Access - Getting There

The town is 50 km south of Mount Somers and 35 km north of Timaru via State Highways 1 and 79.

It is also approximately 1 hour, 40 minutes (138 km) southwest of Christchurch on State Highway 1. Ample parking is available in town for visitors

Regular bus services connect Geraldine with Christchurch, Timaru, Queenstown and other South Island destinations.

International travelers can fly into Christchurch International Airport and drive or take a bus to Geraldine. The main domestic airport in South Canterbury is Richard Pearse Airport (Timaru Airport) with several scheduled flights daily to Wellington Airport. From Timaru Airport it is a 30-minute drive to Geraldine on the Seven Sisters Road or the SH1 and Earl Road.

i-SITE

Geraldine's i-SITE is at 38, Waihi Terrace, 7930 (in Mundell's Complex). Tel: 03 693 1101. It is open 9 am to 4.30 pm (hours differ in wintertime), 7 days a week, 364 days a year.

Stay in Geraldine

Some recommended places to stay include the Geraldine TOP 10 Holiday Park, just 2 minutes' walk from the centre of town and Forest Manor on Forest Road, a bed and breakfast with patio and garden views.

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Queenstown New Zealand's Tiny Bigtime Town

2025-01-06T23:01:00.007+13:00

Queenstown

History | Tourist mecca | Coronavirus impact | Lake Wakatipu legend

Queenstown is a tiny rural town in the wilds of the South Island of New Zealand. It advertises itself not only as the nation's "Home of Adventure" but as the "Adventure Capital of the World". Small and remote though it may be, Queenstown packs a punch well above its weight as New Zealand's scenic playground for outdoor sports fans and adventure seekers.

Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu

Queenstown is so remote that the early pakeha (i.e., European) settlers were able to access it, in the 1850s, only with guidance from local Maori. The original settlers took up farming, but Queenstown took off as a settlement in the 1860s with the discovery of gold in the nearby Arrow River. (Arrowtown, the centre of that particular gold rush, is about 17 km north-east of Queenstown as the crow flies.)

Queenstown is on the edge of New Zealand's third-largest lake, Lake Wakatipu. Being on this very scenic lake and with the Remarkables mountain range on to its south-east, Queenstown offers a variety of stunning views. It is this awe-inspiring natural beauty that drove today's tourism boom, and made this tiny town, with only about 16,000 residents, one of New Zealand's most famous places.

Mountain scenery, Queenstown, New Zealand.

The same beauty has furthered the town's fortunes not only via tourism, but as a movie location. Lake Wakatipu featured in a 2007 film, posing as Loch Ness! And it was also a setting for several Lord of the Rings movie scenes.

Some of Queenstown's fame (or, in this case, infamy) is fueled by its astronomical house prices. Queenstown currently has the highest average house price of anywhere in New Zealand, at $1.21 million - a stark indicator of just how desirable a stake in Queenstown is considered to be.

Kawarau River rapids, Queenstown.

Also, remarkably, Queenstown Airport was until recently New Zealand's fourth busiest airport, with direct flights not only from New Zealand's other major airports, but even from cities in Australia.

So, how did this tiny, remote New Zealand town make it into the global spotlight?

Kawarau Bridge, Queenstown, where bungy jumping began

History

When it comes to tourism, Queenstown was originally a destination for hikers on the Milford Track, or several of the other famous tramping trails in the Otago region. It was also a place for visitors going by coach bus to the stunningly beautiful Milford Sound in Te Wahipounamu to stop over at.

Then, in 1947, one of the biggest names in New Zealand tourism, Sir Henry Wigley, built a ropeway for skiing on Coronet Peak, turning nearby Queenstown into a winter destination as well.

The next landmark year for Queenstown tourism was 1960, when jetboating (a New Zealand invention) opened up the Shotover River canyons to tourists. Jetboating was followed by white water rafting on the Shotover and Kawarau rivers, in 1974. Meanwhile, in 1967, the southern-hemisphere's steepest gondola cableway was completed, taking passengers on a scenic ride up Bob's Peak.

Bungy jumper over the Kawarau River, Queenstown

Bungy jumping - perhaps Queenstown's most famous adventure thrill - became a tourist fixture of the town in 1988. It was soon followed by tandem paragliding and tandem skydiving, helicopter rides, zip-lining, parasailing, kite skiing, and abseiling.

Tourist mecca

Queenstown's gondola ropeway, popular with off-road cyclists

Before COVID-19, struck, Queenstown was receiving tens of thousands of overseas visitors every month, overwhelmingly from Australia. For example, in August 2019, Queenstown Airport alone received 39,200 overseas visitors, not including the thousands of other tourists, domestic or international, who arrived there by means other than air.

2018 saw 3.3 million visitors to the town, and it is estimated that, on average, at any given time pre-COVID-19, there were 34 overseas tourists per local Queenstown resident. The strain on local infrastructure is one issue that has concerned the people of Queenstown, and two years ago they voted in a non-binding referendum to impose a 5% bed tax on visitors (a proposal since shelved because of the coronavirus).

Impact of coronavirus

Hotel construction in Queenstown pre-COVID-19

The coronavirus epidemic has dealt Queenstown's economy an enormous blow, with domestic tourism not coming close to filling the now very underused town's tourism facility capacity. This is in spite of a surge of New Zealanders from other parts of the country to Queenstown, drawn by the extra space from the lack of international tourists. Mayor Jim Boult describes the impact of COVID-19 on Queenstown as an "economic earthquake" as at least one major hotel has temporarily closed its doors to await better times.

But better times may not be just around the corner, as prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, indicated just last week that the ban on international travel to New Zealand will probably continue throughout 2021.

Maori legend about Lake Wakatipu

Looking over Lake Wakatipu from a Queenstown hotel

Finally, for a Maori legend about how Lake Wakatipu, which Queenstown is at the edge of, was formed.

Lake Wakatipu from the Queenstown gondola ropeway

i-SITE

Queenstown's i-SITE is in the Clocktower Building on the corner of Shotover and Camp Street.

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Cornwall Park, Auckland

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